Articulated traveler assembly



Dec. 9, 1969 c. CHILPAN 3, 8 ,388

ARTICULATED TRAVELER ASSEMBLY Filed April 18, 1968 INVENTOR K027 C CMLPAA/ United States Patent 3,482,388 ARTICULATED TRAVELER ASSEMBLY Kurt Constantine Chilpan, Seneca, S.C., assignor to Maremont Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 722,363 Int. Cl. D01h 7/60 US. Cl. 57l25 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of travelers are interconnected in closely spaced relationship to form an elongate, open-ended as sembly which rotates as a unit about a twisting ring. Their interconnection is such that vertical movement of any one traveler, such as might be caused by variation in yarn tenslon, is transmitted to and jointly resisted by other travelers of the assembly. The interconnection bet-ween the travelers in a radial direction is sufficiently flexible for the assembly to conform to the curvature of any one of a number of rings of varying diameter, and for the individual travelers to assume during operation a proper running attitude upon the ring. Individual travelers may be removed from the assembly, and in one construction added thereto, to vary as desired overall weight and drag.

This invention relates to ring-travelers for yarn twisting machinery, and more particularly to an articulated traveler assembly for use upon the rings of such machinery. When used herein, generic meaning should be attributed to the term yarn, which is intended to encompass all types of textile filaments, threads and the like, and to the term twisting, which is intended to encompass spinning.

In ring-twisting operations, variation of the yarn tension, twist and/or other characteristics may be obtained by varying traveler drag and weight. Prior attempts to achieve additional weight by use of larger-sized travelers have not proved entirely satisfactory, particularly in the case of travelers formed of nylon or similar relatively lightweight, nonmetallic substances. In addition to requiring a very large traveler inventory, to meet varying weight requirements, this approach is limited by the fact that a desired weight in the heavier range can frequently be achieved only by a nylon traveler of such excessive size as to be either incapable of conforming the curvature of a ring, in which event it can not be mounted thereon at all, or which if mountable will during attempted use assume a severely tilted or otherwise improper riding attitude, resulting in defective operation and/or rapid wearing-out of the traveler.

Another approach to the problem, disclosed in British Patent 707,622, has been to employ in addition to the yarn-engaging or operative traveler one or more additional travelers on the same ring, the additional travelers being either merely pushed about the ring by the operative traveler or, alternatively, permanently connected thereto in some manner at rather widely spaced points about the circumference of a ring of particular diameter. Pursuit of this approach has not previously resulted in elimination of inventory problems or in the realization of optimum traveler attitude during operation. The spacing and connection, if any connection is provided, between the associated travelers has not been such as to permit them to assume and maintain running attitudes comparable to that which a single one of them would properly assume, if running independently, under the impetus of the gravitational, frictional, yarn-tension and centrifugal forces present during a ring-twisting operation. The additional travelers have not materially assisted the operative traveler, and have in some prior arrangementsactu- 3,482,388 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 ally impeded its assuming a proper attitude. This has resulted in poor performance and no appreciable increaseif not an actual decrease-in useful traveler life.

The present invention provides an elongate assembly of travelers so spaced and interconnected as to permit mounting upon rings of varying diameter and as to permit the individual travelers, while running together during operation, to each assume proper attitudes and to distribute more or less equally among themselves the forces primarily causing traveler wear, particularly the verticallydirected forces attributable to the upward pull of the yarn and opposed by the ring and by gravity. The invention also provides for readily varying the size and therefore the weight of an assembly of the aforesaid type, so that even a relatively small inventory will satisfy a wide range of traveler requirements differing as to ring-diameter, desired yarn-tension, and the like.

Preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a traveler assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the center traveler of the assembly in front elevation;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the assembly mounted upon a twisting ring, shown partially broken away, with yarn passing through the guide thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded side elevation of another embodi-ment of the traveler assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 4.

The elongate assembly identified in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 3 by the numeral 10 consists of a plurality of traveler members 12, five being shown, which may each be of the same size and conventional construction including respective inner and outer horn portions 14, 16 interconnected by a bow portion 18. Travelers 12 extend in closely-spaced and generally axially-aligned relationship to each other, in open-ended row formation, and are interconnected by semiflexible bands 20 which extend longitudinally of assembly 10 between the inner horn portions 14 of adjacent travelers 12. When the travelers are formed as shown of nylon or similar nonmetallic material, bands 20 may be simultaneously and integrally formed therewith, of the same material in the same molding operation. When thus formed assembly 10 is suitable for use immediately after molding and normal finishing. Preferably, however, the assembly is first provided approximately midway of its length and inwardly of its longitudinal axis with a wear-resistant metal or ceramic yarn guide 22, which guide projects into the vertical plane of bands 20 and terminates thereabout in a generally hook-shaped end portion adapted to readily receive yarn. Guide 22 may be carried by the center traveler 12, as shown, or alternatively by one of the adjacent bands 20, and in either event may be secured thereto either during molding or subsequently.

Bands 20 are so formed, as by providing the same with a width considerably less than the height thereof (see FIG. 2), as to cause assembly 10 to possess considerably more flexibility in the lateral direction than in the vertical direction. The lateral flexibility of assembly 10 permitsthe same to readily assume the curvature of and to be easily mounted'upon a twisting ring'24, as shown in FIG. 3, irrespective-within reasonable limits-of the rings diameter. As assembly 10 is rotated during a twisting operation about ring 24, by the action of the yarn 26 upon its guide 22, its aforesaid lateral flexibility also permits centrifugal force to cause the individual travelers 12 to assume attitudes radially of ring 24 comparable to the attitudes which each would individually assume if no connected to the other. The relative inflexibility of assembly vertically assures that upward pull of yarn 26 which is transmitted through guide 22 and thence to the center traveler 12 is, in turn and to a significant extent, thence also transmitted to and resisted by the remaining travelers 12 of the assembly. Also contributing to this highly desirable result, which distributes the wear primarily responsible for traveler failure among all of the travelers of the assembly, is the previously-mentioned location of guide 22 adjacent bands 20, and also the relatively close spacing between the individual travelers 12.

In the latter connection, the spacing between travelers 12, which spacing is equal to and determined by the length of each band 20, is preferably just sufficient to yield the aforesaid lateral flexibility. The spacing is sufficiently small that the yarn force first exerted upon the traveler 12 carrying guide 22 is transmitted to and shared by the other travelers, rather than being borne solely by the former one. Too great a spacing could negate this result and cause excessive wearing and otherwise improper operation of the center traveler, in either or both of two ways: by excessively lengthening the lever arm through which the upward component of the yarn force is transmitted to those travelers distant from its point of immediate application to the center traveler; and/ or by permitting the forward component of the yarn force to cause the center traveler to assume such a severe and unnatural tilted attitude as would bring undesired portions thereof into running engagement wtih ring 24. Generally speaking, the spacing between travelers 21 will be no greater than the axial length of any individual traveler, and in the case of nylon travelers, will usually be a minor fraction of their length. 7

It will be appreciated that instead of being linearly formed as shown in FIG. 1, assembly 10 might be initially formed if desired with some inward curvature. The travelers of such an assembly would still be, within the present frame of reference, generally axially aligned. The number of travelers 12 in any assembly 10 and the overall length of the assembly will of course vary depending upon the intended application, but in any normal application the assembly would extend about a minor portion only of the circumference of an associated twisting n'ng. By initially forming and stocking assemblies of the longest desired length, inventory problems may be simplified. If for a particular application a traveler assembly of lesser weight is desired, this may readily be obtained. All that is required is to sever from one or both ends of case being provided with a slot 28 at its opposite face the assembly 10 the terminal traveler or travelers 12, by

cutting through the band or bands 20 connecting the same to the remainder of the assembly, adjacent the bands inner end.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 4 and 5 affords additional flexibility in the latter regard, permitting travelers to be added to, as well as removed from, the assembly. The travelers 12' and bands 20' of FIGS. 4 and 5 are of the same general construction as travelers 12 and bands 20, but are initially formed separately and are interconnected subsequently in any desired numbers by means of slots 28 projecting inwardly of each traveler 12 through opposite faces of its inner horn portion 14. Each slot 28 is adapted to closely receive an end portion of one of the bands 20', and to retain the same-as by a friction fit.-until positively disconnected therefrom. As either an alternative or an addition to the aforesaid friction fit, slots 28and the end of portions of bands 20 may be provided, as shown, with one or more mating recesses 30 and protuberances 32 on their adjacent surfaces. Such construction utilizes the elastic deforand 5, each band 20' might at one of its ends be formed integral wtih a face of a traveler 12', the traveler in such FIGS. 4 and 5 also illustrate the previously-mentioned possibility of the yarn guide member being carried by one of the bands, rather than by a traveler, of the assembly. It is of course understood that in the FIG. 4 and 5 embodiment, not all of the bands 20' would be formed with or carry a yarn guide member 22'. i

The second embodiment of the invention permits a traveler assembly of .any desired length, and therefore weight, to be readily formed from a limited stock or inventory of simple components, simply by adding or removing travelers to meet the yarn-twisting requirements of the particular operation at hand. The assembly thus formed, in keeping with assembly 10 of the first embodiment of the invention, is easily mountable upon twisting rings of varying diameter, and in operation gives troublefree and long-lived performance.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that this was for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation, and that other constructions and configuration, obvious to those skilled in the art, are within the scope of the invention.

That which is claimed is:

1. A traveler assembly for use with a twisting ring, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent traveler members extending in generally axially-aligned row formation; and means interconnecting said traveler members for movement when in use upon a twisting ring generally as a unit circumferentially and vertically of the ring, and for limited relative movement of individual ones of said members radially of the ring.

2. A traveler assembly as in claim 1, wherein said means detachably interconnects said traveler members, whereby the length and weight of said assembly may be varied by varying the member of said traveler members within said row formation thereof.

3. A traveler assembly as in claim 1, wherein each of said traveler members has inner and outer horn portions connected by a bow portion, and wherein said interconnecting means extends between the inner horn portions of adjacent ones of said traveler members.

4. A traveler assembly as in claim 3, wherein said interconnecting means includes a band of semiflexible material extending between adjacent ones of said traveler members, said band having a greater dimension and rigidity in its height direction than in its width direction.

5. A traveler assembly as in claim 1, wherein said traveler members and said interconnecting means are formed at least in part of nonmetallic material.

6. A traveler assembly as in claim 5, wherein said traveler members and said interconnecting means are formed of nylon-like material.

7. A traveler assembly as in claim 1, and further including a yarn guide member carried by said formation approximately equidistant from the opposite ends thereof.

8. A traveler assembly as in claim 7, wherein said yarn guide member is carried by one of said traveler members and extends adjacent said interconnecting means.

9. A traveler assembly as in claim 1, wherein said traveler members are spaced from each other a distance no greater than the length of an individual one thereof.

10. A traveler assembly as in claim 9, wherein said traveler members and said interconnecting means are provided with mateable male and female connections, said connections permitting individual traveler members to be added to and removed from said formation as desired to vary the weight thereof.

" 11. A traveler assembly for use with a twisting ring,

comprising:

a plurality of adjacent traveler members extending in generally axially-aligned relationship to each other and defining an elongate open-ended row formation; and

means interconnecting said traveler members for relative movement during mounting upon a twisting ring in a direction allowing said formation thereof to conform to the curvature of the ring, and when mounted upon the ring for circumferential movement thereabout as a unit.

.12. A traveler assembly for use with a twisting ring,

comprising:

a plurality of travelers, each having inner and outer horn portions connected by a bow portion, extending in closely spaced and generally axially-aligned relationship to each and defining an elongate openended row formation;

semiflexible bands connected to and extending between the inner horn portions of adjacent ones of said travelers, said bands and said travelers being formed of nylon-like material and the height being greater than the thickness thereof; and

a yarn guide carried by one of said travelers approximately equidistant from the opposite ends of said row formation thereof, said yarn guide being formed of wear-resistant material and being positioned laterally of said row formation generally in the vertical plane of said bands.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 327,550 10/1885 Hayden 57--125 XR 799,142 9/1905 Carroll 57-125 3,373,557 3/1968 Loveland 57125 XR 3,376,699 4/1968 Rogers 57125 JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner 

